When the film’s directors spoke to ScreenRant about adapting the original Infinity Gauntlet storyline, Joe Russo explained that one of the key reasons why Thanos’ infatuation with Death herself isn’t part of the third Avengers movie is because it didn’t suit the story they were trying to tell, and they wanted to do something different with the movie version.

“We’re telling the story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not the Marvel Comic Universe. Like growing up I’m a huge comic book fan. I still have my entire collection, my closet. For me, I’m not interested as a director or as a comic book fan in a literal interpretation of a book. I know that story. I’ve read it. I’m not going to go to the theater and be surprised by it, We’re interested in surprising you. Borrowing elements and the mojo from it but in completing this giant mosaic of the story that’s being told in these movies, not in those books, which is why death is not in this film.”

The backstory that Thanos has in the Marvel Cinematic Universe retains the character’s original goal to wipe out half the universe, but his motivation behind it is different. Thanos witnessed the destruction of his home world of Titan as a result of overpopulation and subsequent resource wars, and as a result of that planet’s subsequent mass-extinction, he vowed to never let that happen again by going from world to world and culling significant portions of their populations. Upon learning of the Infinity Stones, Thanos realized that there was a more efficient way of doing this and set out a plan to unite them with the Infinity Gauntlet so he can “save the universe” by killing untold trillions with the snap of his fingers. This seems like a more believable reason for someone to carry out a campaign of genocide, but there’s nothing to say that Death can’t appear in Avengers 4.

As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.

The currently-untitled Avengers 4 features a cast made up of many of the key players in Infinity War — alongside newcomers like Brie Larson and Evangeline Lilly — and is scheduled to hit theaters on May 3, 2019.

10 Characters That Need To Be Avengers In Marvel’s Phase Four

Avengers: Infinity War arrives this year, and will be followed by a currently untitled fourth Avengers film that will close off Phase 3 and will mark a new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Phase 4 it is safe to say audiences will meet a new roster of the Avengers.

Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America have been the pillars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since its inception, as their individual films have guided lead audiences into each Avengers film. But with the next two Avengers film it is safe to say the curtain will set for those three. That means the Avengers as audiences know them will change dramatically. This means the team will need some new members, ones that will make a big impression to fill the shoes of their predecessors.

While the status of other founding members like the Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye and more up in the air right now, part of the fun in the Avengers comics is the ever-changing roster. The latest roster for the Avengers needs to make a statement. This isn’t the same old Avengers, this is the beginning of a new chapter. Some characters should be upgraded, others will take center stage as the new tentpole franchises, and the Avengers will be new.

Here are the ten characters that should make up the roster for Marvel’s New Avengers. Click Next to get started!